THE INSIDER AUTHORITY ON GATOR SPORTS

Muschamp personally recruiting Smith

Florida has been trying to get all of their top prospects to attend Friday Night Lights all summer. As of Wednesday they didn’t think that they would get linebacker Roquan Smith (6-0, 203, Montezuma, GA Macon County) on campus but that changed late Thursday.

“I was going to have practice and film on Saturday but it was cancelled so I was able to come,” Smith said. “I really didn’t find out until after practice on Thursday so I called Coach [D.J.] Durkin and told him I was coming down.”

Smith didn’t arrive until after Friday Night Lights started but when he arrived he was greeted by hugs from Will Muschamp and Durkin on the field.

Durkin and Muschamp have been the coaches who talk to Smith the most and after Friday Night Lights they sat him down to talk to him about how he would fit into the Florida defense.

“Coach Durkin and Coach Muschamp say that they want me a lot because I bring that physical style of play from Georgia,” Smith said. “Coach Durkin says that I have an opportunity to play early and that’s all you can ask for.”

This is Smith’s second visit to Florida in as many months but the star linebacker is still not close to any kind of decision.

“I’m pretty far away from making a decision, actually,” Smith said. “Florida, UCLA, Georgia, Auburn and a few other schools are still in the mix to get an official. I know three [officials] that I will take and they are Florida, UCLA and Georgia and I’m going to try and squeeze in two more before I announce on signing day.”

One thing that could help Florida is that the Gators are the team to beat for Smith’s good friend, Adonis Thomas, who is also from the Peach State.

“At the end of the day I have to do what’s best for me and my future,” Smith said. “But it would be nice to play with another baller like Adonis. You always want to play with ballers like him and it would be sweet to have two or three Georgia boys down here in Gainesville.”

While most people believe that Smith will stay close to home at Georgia, he says that really all of the schools are an even distance from home.

“Auburn, Georgia and Florida are all three hours away from me so they are all close,” Smith said. “Distance won’t play factor in my decision at all.”

INSIDER TAKE: Florida has an excellent shot at Smith and they will fight Georgia until National Signing Day. With Florida in good shape with Adonis Thomas and with Michael Horton the Gators will have two extra recruiters recruiting Smith this season if they pick Florida. In my opinion, Smith has the ability and skills to become a top SEC linebacker and that’s something that Florida needs.

About Andrew Spivey

Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.

Dude, come to Florida! You will have the opportunity to take a starting position right away; play on one of the top defenses in the country; play for one of the best defensive minds in all of football, who has been in the NFL, knows what it takes to get there and the weather is much nicer in Florida. Looking forward to seeing you become a Gator!

Florida has been trying to get all of their top prospects to attend Friday Night Lights all summer. As of Wednesday they didn’t think that they would get linebacker Roquan Smith (6-0, 203, Montezuma, GA Macon County) on campus but that changed late Thursday.

“I was going to have practice and film on Saturday but it was cancelled so I was able to come,” Smith said. “I really didn’t find out until after practice on Thursday so I called Coach [D.J.] Durkin and told him I was coming down.”

Smith didn’t arrive until after Friday Night Lights started but when he arrived he was greeted by hugs from Will Muschamp and Durkin on the field.

Durkin and Muschamp have been the coaches who talk to Smith the most and after Friday Night Lights they sat him down to talk to him about how he would fit into the Florida defense.

“Coach Durkin and Coach Muschamp say that they want me a lot because I bring that physical style of play from Georgia,” Smith said. “Coach Durkin says that I have an opportunity to play early and that’s all you can ask for.”

This is Smith’s second visit to Florida in as many months but the star linebacker is still not close to any kind of decision.

“I’m pretty far away from making a decision, actually,” Smith said. “Florida, UCLA, Georgia, Auburn and a few other schools are still in the mix to get an official. I know three [officials] that I will take and they are Florida, UCLA and Georgia and I’m going to try and squeeze in two more before I announce on signing day.”

One thing that could help Florida is that the Gators are the team to beat for Smith’s good friend, Adonis Thomas, who is also from the Peach State.

“At the end of the day I have to do what’s best for me and my future,” Smith said. “But it would be nice to play with another baller like Adonis. You always want to play with ballers like him and it would be sweet to have two or three Georgia boys down here in Gainesville.”

While most people believe that Smith will stay close to home at Georgia, he says that really all of the schools are an even distance from home.

“Auburn, Georgia and Florida are all three hours away from me so they are all close,” Smith said. “Distance won’t play factor in my decision at all.”

INSIDER TAKE: Florida has an excellent shot at Smith and they will fight Georgia until National Signing Day. With Florida in good shape with Adonis Thomas and with Michael Horton the Gators will have two extra recruiters recruiting Smith this season if they pick Florida. In my opinion, Smith has the ability and skills to become a top SEC linebacker and that’s something that Florida needs.

Andrew Spiveyandrewspiveyandrew.spivey1987@yahoo.comAuthorAndrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.GatorCountry.com